BERLIN, CT - Facing difficult conditions, Eversource tree and line crews are working non-stop to repair the extensive damage caused by straight-line winds, lightning and hail that ripped through Connecticut Tuesday afternoon. Power restoration efforts are being impeded due to challenging travel conditions caused by hundreds of fallen trees blocking roads. Working alongside Eversource lineworkers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, crews have restored power to more than 71,000 customers since the storm hit. The company is advising customers in the hardest hit areas near Danbury and Newtown that they may be without power for multiple days. Town-by-town restoration estimates are now available at Eversource.com.

“The fierce winds we experienced caused significant damage to the electric system and left many communities devastated,” said Eversource Vice President of Electric Operations Mike Hayhurst. “At every turn, our crews are facing blocked roads caused by downed trees. As a safety precaution, we remind everyone to stay clear of downed wires and to report them to police and fire officials. Once we clear the roads, then we can continue the process of re-building the system and restoring power.”

The company reminds customers to be cautious while continuing with their own storm clean up, be careful moving or cutting tree limbs and look for any wires that may be entangled in debris. Also, customers should report an outage online at www.eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000. Those who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen.

“We realize being without power for any length of time can be difficult. We strive to always be there for our customers when they need us and we remain focused on restoring service to all of those affected by this storm,” added Hayhurst.

Additionally, customers who are without power and plan to use a generator are reminded to be sure the generator is located well away from their home or business and that the transfer switch is working properly.